* Birmingham’s newest and biggest cinema will be opening for the first time during the half term holiday – and its operators are hoping you won’t believe your eyes.
Replacing the old restrictive IMAX format will be the wholly independent Giant Screen at Millennium Point.
Capable of showing everything from 3D blockbusters to nature documentaries and live major event broadcasts from the worlds of sport, pop and theatre, the Giant Screen will be 70ft 6ins x 41ft.
The auditorium has been given a complete makeover, too – with 373 new seats and sound system.
The first film showing from Wednesday, October 26 will be Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin, with a mostly British cast led by Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Toby Jones, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
For ticket details visit www.giantscreencinema.co.uk
* Over at neighbouring Thinktank within Millennium Point, staff will be welcoming Steve from Tropical Inc for special animal handling sessions.
From October 24-28, he’ll be accompanied by feathery, hairy, slithery, scary, and furry friends for a week of up-close and personal animal fun!
There will also be Meet the Scientist sessions where visitors can find out what it is really like to be a scientist.
A family ticket to Thinktank costs £39.
While you are in the area, don’t forget to have a look at work that is progressing to create Birmingham’s first new major park for 130 years – the eight acre Eastside City Park. You’ll get a good view of it from the old Bartholomew St.
Details from: www.thinktank.ac or call 0121 202 2222.
* The Jameson Cult Film Club is to present a nerve-jangling Halloween screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 classic movie The Birds – in St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Hockley B3 1QZ.
The screening is a particularly nice touch since the organisers of it would not have known that Hitchcock was given his first directing job by the Birmingham-born producer Sir Michael Balcon, the late grandfather of Daniel Day-Lewis who is today still the only non-American double best actor Oscar winning actor.
The Birds’ screening will take place on Thursday, October 27 when the church will be transformed into the ‘Bodega Bay Chapel’ for the evening.
Guests with Jameson cocktails in hand will be able to explore the church and graveyard, not knowing when the demonic crows might commit their next senseless attack.
Entering the venue by candlelight, film lovers will be greeted by the sinister sound of a church organ, but everyone must keep their wits about them!
To apply for free tickets to this event sign up to the Jameson Cult Film Club blog http://jamesoncultfilmclub.com/ or visit www.facebook.com/jamesoncultfilmclub.
* Coventry Transport Museum at Hales Street, Millennium Place, Coventry CV1 1JD is launching a Wheels & Waves motoring / surfing exhibition. Open daily from 10am-5pm and with admission free, it’s on from October 20 to March 18, 2012.
Details: www.transport-museum.com or 024 7623 4270.
* For £10 per person and £5 per child, passengers can buy a day’s off-peak travel anywhere on London Midland’s network at half term. Upgrade to first class for £10 (£5 for children).
To check times, discover two-for-one attractions and download a Great Escape voucher, visit: www.londonmidland.com/greatescape or call 08451 28 00 89.
* West Midland Safari Park will be hosting a Spooky Spectacular daily from 10am until Sunday, October 30 and including selected evenings from October 21-30.
Standard admission prices apply for Spooky Days – £13.99 adults, £11.99 children. Special prices apply for entry during Spooky Nights – £6.99 adults, £4.99 children. Amusement rides extra in all cases.
Details: www.wmsp.co.uk or 01299 402114.
* Umberslade Farm Park at Butts Lane, Tanworth-in-Arden B94 5AE is inviting children to build their own guy for bonfire night during family workshops running from Saturday October 22 until Sunday, October 30. Children of all ages will be provided with the materials needed to create a fantastic Guy Fawkes which will be displayed in the Umberslade Guy Gallery.
A panel of judges from Umberslade will then choose the best guys to be burnt on the Tanworth-in-Arden bonfire which will be held at Umberslade Farm Park on November 6.
Details: www.umberslade.com or call 01564 742251.
* Bridget, the European Space Agency and NASA ExoMars mission test robot, will be visiting Leicester’s National Space Centre at LE4 5NS from October 26-29.
Details: 0845 605 2001.
